Easing lockdowns bring imported car sales back to growth in May
Public appetite for imported cars returned in May, a hopeful sign that consumer spending is on the mend as lockdowns relax......»»
Charter change could bring back dictatorship, intensify rights abuses — survivor
For Medy De Jesus, 74, a martial law survivor and member of human rights group Hustisya, the impending charter change could bring back another dictatorship and more human rights violations. The post Charter change could bring back dictatorship, intensify rights abuses — survivor appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
BSP collects P510 million via coin deposit machines
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has collected over half a billion pesos worth of coins as part of efforts to bring them back to circulation and address the shortage due to improper storage or disposal......»»
Rethinking All-Star Game
There has to be some serious rethinking if the NBA hopes to bring back fan interest in the annual All-Star Game. It’s not as if the NBA isn’t doing anything to make the contest more enticing......»»
Paris 2024 medalists to take piece of Eiffel Tower home
‘It's the opportunity for the athletes to bring back a piece of Paris with them,’ organizers say of the Olympic medals forged out of scrap metal from the Eiffel Tower.....»»
Omega Sports Promotions aims to revive Cebu’s glory days in boxing
CEBU CITY, Philippines— Cebu’s very own Omega Boxing Gym eyes to bring back Cebu’s former glory in boxing. Once hailed as the ‘Boxing Mecca of the Philippines,’ Cebu was a prime venue for world title bouts and top-notch fight cards. However, the Covid-19 pandemic happened. Today, Cebu’s once vibrant boxing scene is slowly getting back.....»»
Dabawenyo parents call on DepEd to revert to old school calendar
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 22 January) – Several Dabawenyo parents called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to bring back the June-March academic calendar for school year 2024-2025, rather than implementing the current August-May schedule. Jerome Roces, a father of four kids who are all in the elementary level, said there’s a need to revert […].....»»
Scribes bring joy to Concordia kids
A season of many firsts was capped by the Collegiate Press Corps’ very first Christmas outreach program in the spirit of giving and giving back to communities in need......»»
DOJ working closely with Interpol to repatriate Teves to PH
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently working on a notice with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to bring expelled Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves back to the Philippines. Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla said they have to give the warrant to the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) to.....»»
HT Land invests P30M to bring event space back
HT Land invests P30M to bring event space back.....»»
Economists: 25-bps rate hike likely if inflation rises anew
Economists believe the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas might further raise its policy rate by 25 basis points to 6.75 percent next month if food supply issues and high global oil prices persist. Dan Roces, chief economist of Security Bank, said the BSP might make this decision at its meeting on 16 November to help temper inflation faster. “The higher policy interest rate is driven by mounting local inflation risks, attributed to supply chain disruptions and increasing global commodity prices, including the threat of crude price spikes brought about by tensions in the Middle East,” he told the Daily Tribune in a Viber message. Last Thursday, the central bank hiked its rate by 25 bps to 6.25 percent on an off-cycle period to arrest further inflation uptrend due to the aforementioned factors. Risks might linger Jun Neri, chief economist of Bank of the Philippine Islands, said these inflationary risks might linger until the government finds solutions to increase supply of rice, the main driver of re-accelerated inflation at 6.1 percent last month. While Neri said managing food supply is not the BSP’s responsibility, he agreed with the central bank that rate hikes can help slow inflation by restraining consumer spending. “The rate hike is a statement from the BSP that it is determined to bring inflation back to its target. Inflation expectations may shoot up further if the market doesn’t see any action from the BSP,” the economist said. Exacerbated by Israel-Hamas war “The risk of El Niño, as well as higher global crude oil prices recently among 11-month highs led to higher local fuel pump prices especially since July 2023. This could be exacerbated by the Israel-Hamas war that is still uncertain” Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., added. The post Economists: 25-bps rate hike likely if inflation rises anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Who wants a ‘tindesal?’
There really is no stopping chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou. After opening four restaurants of different concepts with business partners — Chef Tatung’s Private Dining, Lore, Azadore, and New York Cubao — he is finally launching his very own on 26 October. It is called Tindeli, and you can find it at Gateway 2 mall, Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City. Glazed barbecue. Not exactly a restaurant, Tindeli is more of a deli shop and café with a Pinoy touch. It actually got its name from “neighborhood tindahan” and “upscale specialty deli.” It combines a dining area that can accommodate a maximum of 80 people and serves quick meals, salads, sandwiches, noodles, coffee, freshly baked breads and pastries, and a deli that sells homemade sausages, particularly his smoked hamon, wood smoked bacon, tapa, tocino, paté, local cheeses, chicken galantina, longganisa and other charcuterie. It also sells bottled products, such as salad dressings, sauces and drinks. The Galantina they sell in whole chicken form at P1,600. They also slice it and use it for a sandwich or rice meal. Chef Tatung shares that “the food we serve and sell at Tindeli is custom-made for the store, thus giving it a very personal touch. We bake our own breads and pastries, we make our own sausages, longganisa and other charcuterie.” Chori Quezo with salad. All these delicious goodies are, yes, familiar and homey, yet expertly cooked and prepared for the best dining experience ever. One of the highlights of the Tindeli menu is the Tindesal sandwich, which are oversized pandesals with different fillings that remind you of your childhood baon, the kind moms used to make, such as Chicken Salad Sandwich and our longganisa in bread. “Tindesal is our way of celebrating the pandesal as a great bread for delicious sandwiches. Our Chicken Salad Tindesal, for one, is made into an open-faced sandwich topped with a generous dollop of chunky chicken, béchamel sauce and melty cheese to create a delicious blend of flavors and textures that bring back memories and at the same time create new ones,” says Chef Tatung. Galantina. Tindeli, says Chef Tatung, is “not meant to be a fancy place but a cozy spot where one can relax and chill with good homemade food and good coffee or tea — alone or with friends and family.” Chef Tatung personally handpicked the colors and the design of Tindeli. He had modern Filipino interiors done, using traditional elements of Filipino design, such as an oversized solihiya, or thin rattan woven into sunburst patterns, to give the place a homey vibe. So, with the use of terra cotta tegula roofing as wall treatment. The lively hues and elements of modern art, on the other hand, gives the Filipino deli and café a contemporary and relaxed ambiance. Lechon Baka Tindesal. From this first store at Gateway 2 mall, Chef Tatung is looking to open more Tindeli outlets in key cities around the metro and provincial areas in the next two to three years. The post Who wants a ‘tindesal?’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rice sufficiency a pipe dream?
An Indian agricultural economist advised the government to secure investments in rice farmland abroad as it believes the Philippines’ goal of rice self-sufficiency through domestic production is impossible. Dr. Samarendu Mohanty, former principal scientist at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, said the country has smaller arable land to grow enough rice to satisfy consumer demand for the commodity amid its expanding population. “In other countries, they have arable land. The Philippines doesn’t have it because the country is an island nation,” he said during the recent 6th International Rice Congress in Pasay City. “You can take all the measures to expand productivity here, like having certified seeds and fertilizer, but I don’t think you’ll be self-sufficient with the population you have,” Mohanty added. The agricultural economist said the solution is to invest in farmland abroad under a backward linkage method. This distributes inputs from the farm sector to the non-farm sector, which includes agrochemicals, processing, and trading. “You need to find a country where this can be done legally and where there is land and water. Many African countries — Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar — have bigger land the Philippines can invest in and get back the supply to the country,” Mohanty explained. “There’s an Indian company producing rice in Africa and exporting it somewhere else. The Philippines cannot invest in land in India because of land restrictions,” he added. ‘Out of luck’ According to the World Economic Forum, India is the world’s second-top rice producer after China. However, India and other countries recently announced they would limit their rice exports as consumer demand and commodity prices have risen in their local markets. “If you have to address it through imports and the exporting countries have food restrictions, then you’re out of luck. But if you have backward linkages, you can be assured that your rice was produced in Vietnam or another country. Nobody can take that away because that’s your investment,” Mohanty said. He said the government must create policies and conduct discussions with its foreign counterpart and business community abroad to negotiate investments in external rice production. “The government has to facilitate that. The private sector will enter if there’s assurance from the government that they can bring back rice to the country,” Mohanty explained. He said India will resume rice exportations in May next year, with the country’s total production of at least 135 million tons. A portion amounting to 25 million tons is usually left as surplus. The Indian embassy in Manila said on 18 October that India allocated 295,000 metric tons of rice to the Philippines, the biggest share of its non-basmati white rice export, following its bilateral talks with the Marcos administration in August. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla said the two governments and the private sector will still discuss the rice imports’ price terms. She, however, was optimistic that the rice imports would help stabilize the prices of the commodity in the domestic market. Mohanty said India will likely export more rice in the future. “There’s a green revolution happening in the eastern part now. I expect India to have more than 30 million tons of surplus,” he said. The post Rice sufficiency a pipe dream? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
North Korean defectors meet world in ‘Beyond Utopia’
Earning your subject's trust is never easy for a documentary filmmaker -- but it is even harder when they think you want to kill them. That was the challenge faced by US director Madeleine Gavin, whose movie "Beyond Utopia" follows newly escaped North Korean defectors as they flee. These include the Roh family and their elderly grandmother, who Gavin met just weeks after they bolted from their deeply repressive, reclusive homeland, and lifetimes of being fed propaganda. "I'll never forget the way that she would look at me," Gavin told AFP. In their minds at the time, "Americans practically only exist to make North Koreans miserable and to kill and attack North Koreans. "We aren't even human beings... that's what they've been taught." Soon after the Rohs sneaked across the closely guarded border into China, a local farmer connected them to an "Underground Railroad" for defectors, run by a South Korean pastor whom Gavin happened to be filming. The pastor arranged for the family to travel in secret through Communist-ruled China, Vietnam and Laos, braving police checkpoints and a treacherous jungle border crossing. The movie uses footage shot in China by the pastor's "brokers," before Gavin was able to meet and film them face-to-face herself in south-east Asia. At first, Gavin felt "a deep distrust and suspicion" from the family. But despite the powerful brainwashing they had endured in North Korea, even the 80-year-old grandmother's attitude quickly began to shift as she saw the outside world with her own eyes. "She was having none of it... She'd always been told that relative to the rest of the world, North Koreans are the luckiest people on Earth," said Gavin. "Then to be seeing a world where there are animals, and life, and toilets, even! We were a piece of that puzzle." - 'The worst thing' - When Gavin first set out to make her film -- in US theaters Monday -- it focused on North Koreans already living for many years in South Korea. On arrival in the south, many defectors attend a "resettlement facility" where they are taught about the rest of the world, the lies of Kim Jong Un's brutal regime, and basic modern practices such as how to use an ATM. But after meeting Pastor Kim Sung-eun, a prominent South Korean missionary involved in the underground network that brings escapees to the South, Gavin restructured the film to chronicle two families as they flee the north. The documentary follows Soyeon Lee, a mother who has long since escaped North Korea, but is now trying to smuggle out the son she had to leave behind. Tragedy strikes as he is captured in China, and sent back to North Korea to face punishment. Filming the mother's anguish "was really the most difficult thing," said Gavin. "What she has gone through and continues to go through is the worst thing that anyone can go through." - 'Guilt' - The other part of the film follows the Roh family as they embark on their harrowing, 3,000-mile overland journey toward Thailand, and freedom. One slip-up could see them also repatriated to North Korea, lending the documentary a dramatic tension more associated with Hollywood thrillers. But Gavin also set out to make something "experiential and present tense," which gives a "voice to actual North Koreans," whose country is mainly known to the rest of the world for its nuclear arsenal and terrifying politics. Even as they flee, the Rohs express a complex mixture of emotions, from wonder and excitement, to anger at what they have long been deprived of, to shame. Despite witnessing prosperity unthinkable back home, the grandmother "did not let up on the idea that Kim Jong Un was this incredible person, with the most difficult job before him," said Gavin. "She had enormous guilt for leaving, and that anyone who defects is basically abandoning him, and how heartbreaking it is for him." Perhaps more powerful still is the family's homesickness for the friends, neighbors, traditions and land they left behind. The movie includes -- and ends with -- footage secretly shot inside North Korea and smuggled out by the pastor's network, showing everything from the country's barbaric gulags, to the bleakness of everyday life. "As Grandma says at the end of the film, 'we're so lucky, but it keeps me up at night thinking about the people who are still there,'" said Gavin. "And so I wanted to leave the film remembering those people. Because those people are there, and they need us to help bring their voices forward." (Andrew MARSZAL) amz/hg/md © Agence France-Presse The post North Korean defectors meet world in ‘Beyond Utopia’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
First relief convoy enters Gaza devastated by ‘nightmare’ war
The first aid trucks arrived in war-torn Gaza from Egypt on Saturday, bringing urgent humanitarian relief to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave suffering what the UN chief labelled a "godawful nightmare". Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the Islamist militant group carried out the deadliest attack in the country's history on October 7. Hamas militants killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death, and took more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel has retaliated with a relentless bombing campaign on Gaza that has killed more than 4,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. An Israeli siege has cut food, water, electricity and fuel supplies to the densely populated and long-blockaded territory of 2.4 million people, sparking fears of a humanitarian catastrophe. AFP journalists on Saturday saw 20 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent, which is responsible for delivering aid from various UN agencies, pass through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt into Gaza. The crossing -- the only one into Gaza not controlled by Israel -- closed again after the trucks passed. The lorries had been waiting for days on the Egyptian side after Israel agreed to a request from its main ally the United States to allow aid to enter. UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Friday that the relief supplies were "the difference between life and death" for many Gazans, more than one million of whom have been displaced. "Much more" aid needs to be sent, he told a peace summit in Egypt on Saturday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the aid and urged "all parties" to keep the Rafah crossing open. But a Hamas spokesman said "even dozens" of such convoys could not meet Gaza's needs, especially as no fuel was being allowed in to help distribute the supplies to those in need. 'Reeling in pain' Tens of thousands of Israeli troops have deployed to the Gaza border ahead of an expected ground offensive that officials have pledged will begin "soon". As international tensions soar, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was hosting a peace summit in Cairo on Saturday attended by regional and some Western leaders. "The time has come for action to end this godawful nightmare," Guterres told the summit, calling for a "humanitarian ceasefire". The region "is reeling in pain and one step from the precipice", he said. Guterres said "the grievances of the Palestinian people are legitimate and long" after "56 years of occupation with no end in sight". But he stressed that "nothing can justify the reprehensible assault by Hamas that terrorised Israeli civilians". "Those abhorrent attacks can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," he added. Egypt, historically a key mediator between Hamas and Israel, has urged "restraint" and the relaunch of the long-frozen peace process. But diplomatic efforts to end the violence have made little headway, without the participation of Israel and its enemy Iran, a supporter of Hamas and other armed groups. 'Sliver of hope' A full-blown Israeli ground offensive carries many risks, including to the hostages Hamas took and whose fate is shrouded in uncertainty. So the release of two Americans among the hostages -- mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan -- offered a rare "sliver of hope", said Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross. US President Joe Biden thanked Qatar, which hosts Hamas's political bureau, for its mediation in securing the release. He said he was working "around the clock" to win the return of other Americans being held. Natalie Raanan's half-brother Ben told the BBC he felt an "overwhelming sense of joy" at the release after "the most horrible of ordeals". Hamas said Egypt and Qatar had negotiated the release and that it was "working with all mediators to implement the movement's decision to close the civilian (hostage) file if appropriate security conditions allow". Traumatised families with loved ones missing in Gaza demanded more action. "We ask humanity to interfere and bring back all those young boys, young girls, mothers, babies," Assaf Shem Tov, whose nephew was abducted from a music festival where Hamas killed hundreds, said Friday. Devastation Almost half of Gaza's residents have been displaced, and at least 30 percent of all housing in the territory has been destroyed or damaged, the United Nations says. Thousands have taken refuge in a camp set up in the city of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. Fadwa al-Najjar said she and her seven children walked for 10 hours to reach the camp, at some points breaking into a run as missiles struck around them. "We saw bodies and limbs torn off and we just started praying, thinking we were going to die," she told AFP. In Al-Zahra in central Gaza, Rami Abu Wazna was struggling to take in the destruction wreaked by Israeli missile strikes. "Even in my worst nightmares, I never thought this could be possible," he said. Israel's operation will take not "a day, nor a week, nor a month" and will result in "the end of Israel's responsibilities in the Gaza Strip", Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned on Friday. Regional tensions flare In Gaza, retired general Omar Ashour said the destruction was "part of a clear plan for people to have no place left to live". "This will cause a second Nakba," he added, referring to the 760,000 Palestinians who were expelled from or fled their homes when Israel was created in 1948. The United States has moved two aircraft carriers into the eastern Mediterranean to deter Iran or Lebanon's Hezbollah, both Hamas allies, amid fears of a wider conflagration. Fire across Israel's border with Lebanon continued overnight, with one Israeli soldier killed, Israeli public radio said. The military said it hit Hezbollah targets after rocket and missile fire. Violence has also flared in the West Bank, where 84 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The post First relief convoy enters Gaza devastated by ‘nightmare’ war appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM to OFWs in Saudi Arabia: ‘Your efforts have not gone unnoticed’
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told the Filipino community in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday that the government is working diligently to lessen the burden of OFWs. Speaking to the Filipino community in Saudi Arabia before returning to the Philippines, Marcos praised the overseas Filipino workers' "incredible determination and resilience" as they face the world while being away from their loved ones. "I would be remiss, of course, if I do not speak of the difficulties and the challenges that you have all encountered. All of you have sacrificed being separated from your loved ones, your families, and your country," Marcos said. Marcos also praised OFWs for demonstrating Filipino friendliness and warmth, calling the Philippines a "remarkable tourist destination" for inhabitants in their host nations. He added that foreign employers admire the determination and resilience of Filipinos. "On behalf of the government of the Philippines, I convey my gratitude and express my admiration to each and every one of you. You served as an inspiration to us all. The knowledge and the skills that you have acquired, your talent and hard work while you are here have proven to be invaluable assets to the Philippines, Marcos said. He urged Filipinos in Saudi Arabia to help each other, especially OFWs in need. Marcos also asked the Filipinos to share their experiences with their countrymen and bring technical expertise back to the Philippines. Marcos said the government established the OFW Pass to expedite and improve services for Filipino migrant workers as part of digitalizing public transactions. "Your efforts have not gone unnoticed. I look forward to your return. With your help, the Philippine government's integration programs will continue moving forward some brighter future for our country and for our people," he said. The Department of Foreign Affairs estimates 700,000 Filipinos working and living in Saudi Arabia. Most Filipinos in Riyadh work in-home services, construction, tourism, hospitality, health care, and agriculture. The post PBBM to OFWs in Saudi Arabia: ‘Your efforts have not gone unnoticed’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BSP collects P115 million worth of coins
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has collected P115 million worth of coins as part of efforts to bring them back to circulation and address the shortage due to improper storage or disposal......»»
In Bohol, man accused of stalking then killing 25-year-old woman
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A 25-year-old woman was killed by her alleged stalker in Talibon town in Bohol on Friday, October 13, 2023. Police in Talibon Police Station confirmed that a stabbing incident occurred at Purok 4, Brgy. Calituban, Talibon, and claimed the life of a female college graduate. The victim was identified as Rosana Amorin, who is also a resident of the same area. The suspect, Jerald Garcia, is currently under police custody. Amorin sustained a total of eight stab wounds, said Police Corporal Elton Jan Fuentes who is part of the investigating team. Citing their initial findings, Fuentes said Garcia had allegedly been stalking Amorin before committing the crime. A few days prior to her untimely demise, the victim had apparently caught the suspect trailing her. She called out his attention, said Fuentes. Police believed personal grudge as Garcia’s motive in attacking and then killing Amorin. “Basin nauwaw (pagkahuman nasakpan siya nga nagsunod-sunod sa biktima),” Fuentes added. According to investigators, the crime took place around 3:30 a.m. on Friday. The suspect trespassed the Amorins’ residence by accessing the house’s back door, which was unlocked. Garcia, carrying a kitchen knife, went towards the victim’s room where she was sleeping. The victim’s older brother told the police he suddenly woke up after hearing Rosana’s screams. He rushed to her room where he reportedly saw the suspect clutching the knife and the younger Amorin bathed in her own blood. The brother immediately apprehended Garcia, and called the authorities. Neighbors have also heard the commotion and helped the older Amorin bring Garcia to the barangay hall. Rosana was rushed to a nearby hospital but she succumbed to her stab wounds shortly. Fuentes said they will file murder charges against Garcia on Monday, October 16. In the meantime, police continue to verify reports that the suspect had apparently been under the influence of illegal drugs when he committed the crime. Police have also seized the murder weapon from Garcia. RELATED STORIES Robbery eyed in death of taxi operator, who was shot, stabbed in Cebu City house Construction worker jailed for stabbing woman he suspected as pickpocket, sex worker.....»»
Taiwan singers won’t let curtain fall on Hakka opera
Dressed in a robe fringed with beaded tassels, traditional Taiwanese opera singer Jen Chieh-li applies the final touches to her heavily painted face as she prepares to take the stage. The 34-year-old is a member of Jing Sheng Opera, one of a handful of troupes in Taiwan still staging traditional dramas in the Hakka language -- a dialect that is not widely spoken on the island because of its dwindling ethnic population. Taiwan's traditional Hakka opera, usually performed at religious festivals, dates back to the late Qing Dynasty and was brought to the island by migrants from mainland China. Even as its popularity dwindles, Jen, who has trained at a drama school since the age of 12, said she would not give up the fading art. "I could find a regular job but it would be a waste of all the time and effort I have devoted to studying and performing Hakka opera," she told AFP. That sweltering night in northern Taoyuan county, Jen was performing "Legend of the White Snake", a famous Chinese folk tale about a romance between a man and a serpent spirit. Around 100 people, mostly elderly, sat on plastic stools to watch the show on a makeshift stage outside a temple in a reflection of Hakka opera's struggle to capture the attention of a shrinking audience. "It is a niche performance art as many people don't even understand the language," said Chiang Yu-ling, who founded the Jing Sheng Opera with her husband 19 years ago. There are only eight Hakka troupes in Taiwan that can keep regular staff, albeit with financial support from the government and private sponsors, according to Chiang. She is counting on new blood, such as Jen, who is studying for a master's degree in performance art, to help bring in more and younger audiences. "My husband and I are in our 50s and we have limited ideas. We hope to get more young people on board... to make Hakka opera more different," Chiang told AFP. 'People are nostalgic' Hakka shares similarities with Peking opera, the most dominant form of traditional Chinese opera that has UNESCO heritage recognition, but language is one of the main reasons for its flagging popularity. In Taiwan, where Mandarin is widely spoken, Hakka people make up less than 20 percent of its 23 million population, and even those within the community are no longer fluent in the dialect. "My father's generation speak mostly Mandarin already and I speak very little Hakka," said Louis Lo, 30, who was accompanying his elderly relatives to the show. "The opera doesn't appeal to young people due to the language barrier," he told AFP. To attract more fans, Jing Sheng's troupe has incorporated modern elements into traditional performances. One example is their update of a Chinese folk drama involving a dragon princess and her human lover, which now includes street dance sequences, fire acts, and acrobatics. "We are getting the audiences to know Hakka opera through more innovative performances and hopefully they would also want to watch the traditional ones," Jen said. Despite their dwindling audience numbers, fellow performer Shih Yu-tsen, 31, said the art form "definitely won't vanish". "There may be fewer Hakka operas but people are nostalgic," she told AFP. "They will recall the past all of a sudden and they will want to watch it." Besides, Jen said, a show ticket costs as little as $200 Taiwan dollars ($6.30) with student discounts. "We often say it just takes the same amount of money to buy a Starbucks to support traditional art, to keep it alive," she said. The post Taiwan singers won’t let curtain fall on Hakka opera appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Free ride at Edsa Bus Carousel back next month
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III on Monday happily announced that Libreng Sakay (free ride) for Edsa Bus Carousel and jeepneys will return this November until the end of 2023. At a press conference in Quezon City where jeepney associations are supposed to air their grievances over the government subsidy, Guadiz said the free ride program for jeepneys and buses will return on 1 November. Guadiz said this was after the joint circular for releasing the P1.3 billion fund for the service contracting program had been approved. The particular vehicles offering free rides will ply across the National Capital Region, and not just along Edsa. "This month we will release the budget. We will bring back Libreng Sakay. We will start with Metro Manila. It will include jeepneys," he said. "Iyong P1.3 billion tapos na po iyong joint memorandum circular. Ibaba na po ang pera. Alam mo ang hinahabol namin doon November-December para maagang pamaskong handog ng LTFRB," he added. The fund he explained is intended to pay the service contracting program. “Kung dati po, hanggang sa mga bus sa Edsa Carousel, ngayon pati mga jeepneys," the LTFRB Chair said. The post Free ride at Edsa Bus Carousel back next month appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Oil prices jump as Hamas attack on Israel fuels supply fears
Oil prices rallied while the dollar and yen advanced Monday after Hamas launched a shock attack on Israel at the weekend, sparking fresh concerns about tensions in the Middle East. The crisis fanned concerns about supplies of crude from the region at a time when supply worries are already high owing to Saudi Arabia and Russia's output cuts. It has also renewed fears about the impact on inflation, with energy costs a key driver of spiking prices, giving a fresh headache to central banks as they try to ease up on interest rate hikes to avoid recessions. The surprise attack and Israel's declaration of war in response to it have left more than 1,000 dead and raised concerns that a potential broadening of the conflict could draw in the United States and Iran. "Key for markets is whether the conflict remains contained or spreads to involve other regions, particularly Saudi Arabia," said ANZ Group's Brian Martin and Daniel Hynes. "Initially at least, it seems markets will assume the situation will remain limited in scope, duration, and oil-price consequences. But higher volatility can be expected." Both main contracts surged more than five percent in early Asian business before easing back as the day wore on. However, SPI Asset Management's Stephen Innes warned: "Historical analysis suggests that oil prices tend to experience sustained gains after the Middle East crises. "Meanwhile, stocks tend to eventually recover and trend higher after an initial period of volatility. Safe-haven assets like gold and Treasurys, which initially see gains during such crises, tend to fade from their initial price spikes as the situation stabilizes. "But with Middle East analysts considering this to be a pivotal moment for Israel, the view looks incendiary in any current scenario." A decidedly risk-off mood also saw investors push into the safety of the dollar, which was up against the pound and euro, as well as the Australian and New Zealand dollars. The yen, considered one of the safest currencies, strengthened against the greenback, though it still remains locked around 11-month lows. Gold, another key haven, gained more than one percent. Equity markets were mixed, with Shanghai dropping on its first day back after a week-long holiday as investors continue to fret over the stuttering Chinese economy. There were also losses in Mumbai, Singapore, Manila, Bangkok and Wellington, though Hong Kong rose as it opened in the afternoon, having been closed in the morning owing to a typhoon. Sydney and Jakarta eked out gains. Tokyo was closed for a holiday. London edged up at the open while Paris and Frankfurt were lower. The tepid performance came despite a rally on Wall Street, where traders welcomed data showing a forecast-busting jump in new jobs but wage growth slowing. The "Goldilocks" figures -- neither too strong nor too weak -- lifted optimism the world's top economy can avoid a recession even as the Federal Reserve keeps rates elevated. Still, there are worries the bank will hike one more time before the end of the year, with officials determined to bring inflation to heel and keep it at their two percent target. Key figures around 0715 GMT West Texas Intermediate: UP 3.5 percent at $85.69 per barrel Brent North Sea crude: UP 3.1 percent at $87.23 per barrel Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.4 percent at 17,552.01 Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.4 percent at 3,096.92 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 7,518.16 Tokyo - Nikkei 225: Closed for a holiday Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0540 from $1.0588 on Friday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2195 from $1.2234 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 149.15 yen from 149.30 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.49 pence from 86.52 pence New York - Dow: UP 0.9 percent at 33,407.58 (close) (Bloomberg News contributed to this story) The post Oil prices jump as Hamas attack on Israel fuels supply fears appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»